Tyler & Teresa Adoption Profile

ABOUT US

Tyler and Teresa first connected on Christian Mingle in January 2020, with Tyler in Nebraska and Teresa in California. They quickly bonded over their shared love for the outdoors, working with children, and their strong faith in Jesus. On the first night they spoke on the phone, Teresa messaged her best friend, saying, "I’m going to marry this man." They met in person for the first time on February 29, when Tyler flew to California, and just a few months later, got engaged in Nebraska on June 11. They were married on July 18, both agreeing, "When you know, you know, so why wait?"

Teresa attended a Christian school in California, where she majored in Visual and Fine Arts with a focus in Cinematography. During her studies, she produced numerous videos and worked in photography. Below is a video she created to showcase how she and Tyler spent their time in 2020.

Tyler's parents live in the country in Nebraska, Teresa's favorite place in the world. This is where Tyler and Teresa got married, in 2020, with less than 30 people in attendance due to the pandemic. It made the day hard, but special because they didn't want to wait any longer to share their love with the world. They were joined by many via zoom and enjoyed the small amount of family they were able to celebrate with. Every season, Teresa takes a photo of how the seasons change in the same spot where they said "I do" in between the two trees.
Christmas 2023, eventually getting 3.5 feet of snow at the place where they were married. Teresa's favorite weather is snow and Tyler's family laughs every time they find her outside in the snow.
Tyler and Teresa went to the Black Hills in South Dakota for their honeymoon, as well as Wyoming. They stayed in a cabin, hiked, ate ice cream, and spent a lot of time outside in nature.
Tyler and Teresa have a chubby 7 year old long haired tabby cat named Tippy, who loves Tyler much more than Teresa.
Over the last 5 years, they have found a love of seeing new places, road trips, and nights at home snuggling with Tippy. Tyler and Teresa go on a roadtrip every year as part of their yearly vacation. They have been to 23 states together. They spend the time in the car reflecting on the year, having sing-a-longs, listening to marriage podcasts, and setting goals for the next year.

About Tyler

Tyler graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Psychology and minor in sociology. This has lead to Tyler advocating for mental health initiatives in Colorado and working in mental health to support children who struggle. Tyler helped get a bill passed in Colorado that taxes would go towards mental health support in the local community. At his current job as a mental health group coordinator for children, he is often heard telling "dad jokes" and referencing the Ninja Turtles. His daily peanut butter and jelly sandwich (grape jelly only!) is often commented on and laughed about by people, noting that he is always consistent.

Every summer, he spent two weeks with his paternal grandparents, and he continues to visit his 95- and 90-year-old grandmothers regularly in Nebraska.

Tyler grew up in a tight-knit small town in Nebraska, where everyone knew each other. Tyler was raised on a farm, where he learned the importance of hard work. Some of his fondest memories include playing in the mud with his Tonka trucks, baking with his mom, and working on the farm alongside his family. When he was 9, his parents bought the local hardware store, and while Tyler helped out there, he always preferred the dirt and mud of the farm, where you’d more likely find him. He raised pigs for 4-H and took care of all the family cats, but he also had a few loyal dogs as companions growing up. Tyler developed a love for baseball, though, it wasn’t a big sport in his community. That didn’t stop him from tuning in to the radio to listen to the Colorado Rockies games.

Living on the farm gave Tyler the chance to bond closely with his family, working alongside them—whether it was taking a break with a cold pop or laying miles of irrigation pipe. Through these experiences, he formed strong relationships that have lasted to this day. Family vacations often took them to Estes Park, Colorado, where Tyler then had the opportunity to live in that community as an adult, fulfilling a long-held dream. During his time in the mountains, he also formed deep friendships with people from all over the world. His love for the mountains has remained deep.

Tyler with his Brother and sister in Rocky Mountain National Park, during one of their family vacations to Estes Park.
Tyler's bear (pictured left, from 1996) homemade by his mom's cousin when he was born, now rests on the rocking chair that Tyler and Teresa chose for the nursery of their future child. Along with the bear, Tyler's toddler toys from his grandma and his step stool, handmade by his grandpa to help him reach the sink, are also intended to be passed down for their future child to enjoy.
Tyler loved to help his Dad and get dirty in the shop. Tyler grew up with his Tonka Trucks digging around in the mud. Tyler took such good care of his toys and trucks so he could have them to share with his children: Tonka Trucks for the dirt and mud outside and John Deere Tractors for inside!
When Tyler was 9 and 17, both of Tyler's grandpas passed away. They were very important to him: Pictured is his paternal grandpa. Tyler was especially close with his grandpa that he helped farm until his passing when he was a teen.
Tyler grew up playing baseball, football, running cross-country, and baking with his mom. He's always had a love for the outdoors and has designed their backyard to be the perfect spot to use his old glove (pictured) to teach his future children how to play catch.
Tyler's Parents, Grandmas, and Siblings at their wedding. Teresa consider's Tyler's family her own, from calling his mom to ask about a recipe to being picked on by his brother like a little sister, Teresa loves spending holidays and quality time with them. They like to come to Tyler and Teresa's house to work on building a new closet in the nursery or fix old doors.
Tyler's mom described Tyler as a "cat magnet" because every time she would go looking for him as a child, he would be walking around with the farm cats following him, or sleeping with them all around him in the shed. Tyler has always had a special relationship with cats, taking care of them, loving them, and building trust. Tyler integrates his current cat, Tippy, into all of his activities. She sits and watches him while he does construction work on the house, he reads with her in his lap, and sleeps with her on the couch: just like he always did as a child.

About Teresa

Teresa grew up in the Redwood forest of California as the third of what would eventually be seven sisters. Needless to say, it was a lively and often chaotic childhood, which led to strained relationships during their teenage years. However, now that the older sisters are in their 30s, they share a deep bond that no one can break. They are the only ones who truly understand each other's quirks and experiences.
Pictured are some of Teresa's little sisters and their nieces who are growing up together in California. Teresa has 5 nieces, ranging from 1 year old to 15.

Although they don’t see each other frequently—with one sister in Florida, Tyler and Teresa in Kansas, and her dad and other sisters in California—they maintain a strong relationship. They stay connected through sister group chats, holiday video calls, and occasional visits to spend time together in person.

2 year old Teresa
Courtney, the young girl on the right, was the daughter of Teresa's mom's best friend. Teresa and her sisters spent nearly every day with her, enjoying weekend sleepovers and road trips together. Growing up without a father, Courtney eventually moved in with Teresa's family as a teenager and Teresa’s dad, Robert, adopted her. The photo below shows Teresa’s dad with all seven of his daughters on Courtney’s wedding day in 2022. This is the only photo that exists of her Dad with all his daughters, due to them living in different places.
Katie, Tasha, Princess, Courtney, Robert, Athena, Teresa and Tanya.
Teresa has a really wonderful relationship with Tyler's parents. They video chat with his parents at least once a week, have a constant group chat with his siblings and parents, and see each other often throughout the year.
Teresa pictured with 3 sisters, a niece, her mom and grandma in 2013. Teresa completed a church internship in her hometown where she became a pastor and lived in Russia for a year as a missionary. Teresa finds joy in working/volunteering creatively within the church.
One of Teresa's favorite places to visit is her hometown, where she can see her sisters and Dad, as well as most of her nieces. She introduced Tyler to the cold ocean and beautiful Redwood trees in California.
After being in Siberia for 9 months in 2014/2015, Teresa can't get enough of snow or cold, and will often be found walking instead of driving, and spending the winter months outside reading, instead of inside. Tyler keeps thinking the California girl will outgrow it, but she does not think so.
Teresa had a classic 90's childhood of being outside all day long and coming back in at dark. Her home was loud with all the girls. While Tyler and Teresa lead a pretty quiet life, Teresa can't wait to hear a few sets of running feet and laughter in their home.
Tyler and Teresa on their first birthdays.
Teresa
I’ve always known I would be a mom, ever since I was six years old. It didn’t matter to me how it would happen, but deep down, I knew my purpose was to love every child I met until the ones who would one day call me “momma” came into my life. It never crossed my mind that I’d be 33 and childless. People around me have said I’ve been a mom since I was 12, when I began caring for children who didn’t have parents to keep them safe. For 15 years, I’ve chosen jobs where I could work one-on-one with kids—loving those with special needs, caring for newborns, homeschooling 8th graders, and even introducing them to car dance parties with Taylor Swift. I've been a Nanny, a Children’s Pastor, and more recently, a Mental Health Case Manager for children who’ve experienced trauma. I chose these roles because of my dream to be a mom, and I’ve always been very close to my sisters and nieces (that’s right—no boys in my big family!). Looking back, I now realize that part of my deep connection to kids and my nieces is because I feel unfulfilled in my personal life, lacking the one thing I’ve always longed for: my own children.
Tyler
For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard people speak about the deep, unspoken love they have for their children—and the love that God has for all of us. That kind of love has always been something I’ve longed to experience. I feel a strong connection with children, teenagers, and young adults, and I am fortunate to have built some deep, meaningful relationships over the years. In fact, there are days when I’m moved to tears just thinking about how impactful these bonds have been on my life. I’m not one to throw around the word "love" lightly, but when it comes to people (and, of course, cats!), it truly embodies how I feel. Over the past five years, I’ve worked hard to create a life where I can focus on nurturing my future children. I’ve made significant changes to simplify my home, grow personally, and advance my career in order to have the flexibility and stability needed to be the best parent I can be.
Interested in learning more about us? Please contact our case worker, Lori Titsworth, at Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas.
620-792-1393